41st FA GP/Bde
2nd Battalion 83rd Field
Artillery
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All Pictures in this section © Duane Lempke
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83rd Field Artillery Distinctive Unit Insignia Description A gold color metal and enamel device 1 5/32 inches (2.94 cm) in height overall consisting of the shield and motto of the coat of arms. Symbolism The shield is yellow for Cavalry and red for Artillery. The blue chevronel denotes the Regiment’s short period of service overseas during World War I. The Cheyenne warbonnet refers to the birthplace of the organization in Wyoming. The bear, from the crest of the state of California, commemorates service in the 8th Division at Camp Fremont, California. The canton represents the Regiment’s formation by transfer of men from the 1st Cavalry (formerly 1st Dragoons) in 1917. Background The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 83d Field Artillery Regiment on 15 November 1923. It was redesignated for the 83d Field Artillery Battalion on 5 October 1942. It was redesignated for the 83d Armored Field Artillery Battalion on 13 May 1943. The insignia was redesignated for the 83d Field Artillery Battalion on 30 June 1950. It was again redesignated for the 83d Artillery Regiment on 21 November 1958.Effective 1 September 1971, the insignia was redesignated for the 83dField Artillery Regiment. It was amended to reflect the change in symbolism on 10 January 1973. The insignia was amended to correct the symbolism on 12 October 1984.  Coat Of Arms Blazon Shield Party per chevron Or and Gules, a chevronel Azure between in sinister chief a Cheyenne warbonnet and in base a grizzly bear passant both Proper. On a canton Tenné a dragon passant of the first. Crest On a wreath of the colors, Or and Gules, a bison statant Argent. Motto FLAGRANTE BELLO (During Hostilities). Symbolism Shield The shield is yellow for Cavalry and red for Artillery. The blue chevronel denotes the Regiment’s short period of service overseas during World War I. The Cheyenne warbonnet refers to the birthplace of the organization in Wyoming. The bear, from the crest of the state of California, commemorates service in the 8th Division at Camp Fremont, California. The canton represents the Regiment’s formation by transfer ofmen from the 1st Cavalry (formerly 1st Dragoons) in 1917. Crest The crest also symbolizes the birthplace of the organization. Background The coat of arms was originally approved for the 83d Field Artillery Regiment on 18 March 1920. It was redesignated for the 83d Field Artillery Battalion on 5 October 1942. It was redesignated for the 83d Armored Field Artillery Battalion on 13 May 1943. The insignia was redesignated for the 83d Field Artillery Battalion on 30 June 1950. It was again redesignated for the 83d Artillery Regiment on 21 November 1958. Effective 1 September 1971, the insignia was redesignated for the 83d Field Artillery Regiment. It was amended to reflect the change in symbolism on 10 January 1973. The coat of arms was amended to correct the symbolism on 12 October 1984. |
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| The Early History of the 83rd Field Artillery  The 83rd Field Artillery Battalion is a descendant of the First Regiment of Cavalry, organized by an act of Congress on June 15th, 1832 as the Battalion of Mounted Rangers, later redesignated the First Regiment of Cavalry. On June 3, 1916, one third of the personnel of the First Cavalry became cadre for the 25th Cavalry regiment. The 25th Cavalry was converted and redesignated the 83rd Field Artillery Regiment on November 11, 1917, with station at Fort D.A. Russel,Wyoming. The new 83rd Field Artillery Regiment was then assigned to the 8th Artillery Brigade of the 8th Regular Army Division.  Postcard of 2/83 at Ft. Benning In February 1918, the Regiment left Fort D.A. Russel for Camp Fremont, California where it joined the other two Regiments of the Brigade (81st and 82nd). On July 1, 1918, the 83rd left Camp Fremont for Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After a short stay at Fort Sill, the Regiment set sail for France, arriving at Brest on November 9, 1918. The Regiment acted as body guard to President Wilson during his stay in France. The 83rd sailed from France in 1919 and was initially stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, 1918. During November 1919, the horses were turned in and the 83rd became a tractor drawn regiment. The First Battalion was placed on detached service at Fort Benning, Georgia and began its function as the Artillery demonstration Battalion for the Infantry School. In October of 19/40 the 83rd Field Artillery Regiment moved from Fort Benning to Fort Jackson, S.C.  Postcard from 1938 showing 2/83 at Ft. Bragg NC. then on January 9, 1941, the Second Battalion was designated as the 70th FA Battalion, and the Third Battalion as the 71st FA Battalion. First Battalion was redesignated as the 83rd Field Artillery Battalion. The 83rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion was inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia on October 7, 1945 and was reactivated and redesignated the 83rd Field Artillery Battalion (105mm truck drawn) at Fort Benning Georgia August 1, 1946. The Battalion was again inactivated at Fort Benning, Georgia on November 23, 1948. The Battalion became reactivated at Fort Bragg, N.C. on February 11, 1950 (155mm Gun Towed). The Korean conflict started June 27, 1950, and the 83rd Field Artillery Battalion contributed to this emergency by sending trained men into the combat area. It continued to do this until after the cease fire agreement July 27, 1953. The 83rd Artillery was one of the unit designations selected to be retained under the combat arms regimental system. The 83rd FA Battalion at Fort Bragg, N.C. was redesignated the First Howitzer Battalion, 83rd Artillery. This Battalion is a 8" self-propelled Howitzer unit. The 593rd FA Battalion was redesignated the 2nd How Bn, 83d Artillery in July 1958 with station in Buedingen, Germany. Sources Internet |
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2nd Battalion 83rd Field Artillery The Commanders  LTC Tucker 1969-1971 LTC Boylan 1971-1973 LTC Keith Seago 1973-1975 LTC William T. Zaldo III 1975-1977 LTC George Moses LTC Bart Barcellos 1977-1979 LTC Charles Palmer 1979 - 1981 LTC Albert E. Carlson 1981-1983 LTC Duane Lempke 1984-1986 1986-1988 |
Col Duane Lempke
1984-1986
LTC. Lempke and Mrs Leyda
Thanksgiving 1984
Fasching 1985
Click here to read Col Lempkes Biography
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Brigade and Battalion coins
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SVC Btry M88
2nd 83rd FA
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Reforger 1985 Central Guardian
(Return of Forces to Germany)21 January - 31 January 1985
Units involved:
US V Corps
8th Infantry Division MECH
11th ACR
197th INF BDE
3rd Armored Division
4th Infantry Division
Total Troops involved:
72.000
A common site to see in the 1980's,
small German towns and NATO convoys.
Near Giessen Germany
1985
C Battery rumbles through a German town
1985
Somewhere in Hessen Germany
2nd 83rd FA on the move in a typical North Hesssian landscape
Never met a Soldier that liked maneuvers in the Winter time
Field Artillery in the snow
1985
(source Internet)
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2nd 83rd FA at Graf
A Battery on the move
C Battery Gun, being positioned
Raising the cammo netting
The Guns in Graf
Dropping the Spade
A Battery .50 cal
C24 backing onto the spade
Moving into position
Ready to Fire
Chow time in the field
Loading an A Battery Gun
Positioning the ammunition carrier
A 2nd 83rd FA
Fire Battery on the move
Washing the "cars" after a long day at work
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The 2nd 83rd FA Hardware
2nd 83rd Motor pool
The Babenhausen motorpool
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Finally, Going Home...to Babenhausen
Loading the guns onto flatbead railway cars
Don't want to lose on on the way
Almost ready to leave for home
Home at last
Main Gate Babenhausen Kaserne
SVC Battery rumbles in
Home sweet home
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Battalion HQ
In the 2nd Bn Orderly Room
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The Birds View
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The Thunderbolt Team
A Battery change of command
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Ammo Resupply in the field
Loading projectiles
Ammo resupply
Big bullets
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The 2nd 83rd Off Duty
Fuzzball at it's finest, Lt. Parsley drops on into the net
If you can't kick it, throw it.....
Thunderbolt "Pie eaters"
The Thunderbolt Basketball team
2nd 83rd Awards Presentation
The Thunderbolt Battery races
Winners of the "Thunderbolt Classic"
The annual Christmas party for the local Orphanage
Holding on to a long Army tradition in Babenhausen,
that first started in 1951.
The Thunderbolt Football team, winners of the 1984 Darmstadt community championships
Tug o War Thunderbolt style
If you can't drive them, tow them
Fasching in Babenhausen
All photos used
with permission from
Duane Lempke
©2013
A 2nd/83rd, M110A2 at an open house event
at Babenhausen
-1984-
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